perchloroethylene

[per-klawr-oh-eth-uh-leen, -klohr-]

noun

Chemistry.

1. tetrachloroethylene.

perchloroethylene

/ pəˌklɔːrəʊˈɛθiːn, pəˌklɔːrəʊˈɛθɪliːn /

noun

1. a colourless liquid used as a dry-cleaning solvent. Formula: CCl 2 :CCl 2

perchloroethylene

1. See tetrachloroethylene

Word History and Origins

Origin of perchloroethylene¹

First recorded in 1870–75; perchloro- + ethylene

Example Sentences

The groundwater in the area is contaminated with harmful chemicals including trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Perchloroethylene, or PCE, is a cleaning solvent that has been linked to several types of cancer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Together, they focused on an attractive target, the commonly used degreasing and dry-cleaning agent perc, or perchloroethylene as chemists call it, which is non-harmful and produced in large quantities around the world.

Read more on Science Daily

The agency moved to ban asbestos last year and has also proposed banning methylene chloride, perchloroethylene and carbon tetrachloride.

Read more on Seattle Times

That includes the likely next up, perchloroethylene, a solvent used for cleaning and degreasing, and carbon tetrachloride, another solvent that is commonly used to produce other chemicals such as refrigerants.

Read more on Washington Post